Its Director for Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique, Wellington Chibede, said he feel embarrassed that Africans do not promote their own products even in government cycles.

"Promoting foreign products, we export labor and deplete the foreign reserves," he said.

The Ministry of Labor Principal Secretary, Wezi Kayira insists that through the Buy Malawi Strategy, the country is trying to flood the outlets with local products.

Meanwhile, the Tea Association of Malawi (TAML) Chief Executive Officer, Tonda Chinangwa has disclosed that this year, the country has produced about 43 million kilograms of tea, a drop from an average of 45 million kilograms realized last year.

Chinangwa attributed: "the reason being with Cyclone Freddy there was a lot of rains which came within a short period and also destroyed tea. But after that, the rains have been very erratic and inadequate".

For months now, Malawi has been grappling with forex shortage and economic captains have been citing its inability to produce and satisfy exports among others.

This has brought serious disruptions in the economy as the country has for several occasions failed to import fuel, among other essential products.